Major winter storm hits Northeast

(NBC News) Bitter cold temperatures, high winds and blizzard conditions are battering areas from Washington, D.C. to Maine as a major winter storm hits the northeastern United States.

The storm is only expected to intensify as it continues through the evening

19 million people in the storm's path are bracing for a deep freeze, with wind gusts of 50 miles-an-hour and 12-to-24 inches of snow.

"This a fast moving, high impact event," warns Massachusetts Department of Transportation Highway Administrator Tom Tinlin. "The amount of snow we're getting in a short period of time will make travel extremely difficult."

Thousands of flights have been delayed or canceled and more are expected. Be sure to check with your airline before heading to the airport. The storm is impacting more than just flights to the states in the northeast as major airline hubs work to redirect and reschedule flights.

Chicago is the hardest hit with flights subject to a ground delay due to snow and ice.